I have much to say in some ways, and very little in others. But let me just start straight away by telling you that I am currently sat typing this at the dining room table of my best friend, AJ, while listening to and watching the rain hammer down outside the window next to me.

Everything is lush and green and full of life, and despite the current downpour, I can clearly see warm sunlight on the horizon over yonder, which will be sure to reach us soon. I am at present fully enjoying England in a season I haven’t seen here in some time – summer.

Let’s just get this said upfront and out of the way – any lavish praise you hear of Bryce Canyon is totally justified.

I spent two months of a summer in Salt Lake City, some 13 years ago now, and still remember clearly being reminded almost on a daily basis that I must make the effort to travel south and see Bryce Canyon before I returned home. Well, that opportunity never presented itself, and I’ve always wondered if I missed out.

And it’s very strange because usually I would beat myself up over the fact I had formulated plans and made grand announcements and then not carried them out; but for some reason in this case, that didn’t happen at all. I feel completely at ease with not going and trudging in the mud and being eaten by bugs for no real reason or further enjoyment.

But what I did experience, and felt amazement over, was that I did have this total inner epiphany; well maybe not that but more of an overwhelming inner confirmation that when I chose to hike the Appalachian Trail, I did so for a certain purpose. And even though I wouldn’t be able to adequately express in words wholly what that purpose was, I can tell you that every morning I woke up and knew that I was there because I was supposed to be.

Even though I might have gone through some incredibly tough and rough spots, I never, ever woke up with the feeling that being in the woods and devoting myself to attempting to hike 2,200 miles was not the right thing to do. In fact I am now 100% certain that it was the right decision to have made and the right time in my life to be doing just that.

I also now realise with such startling clarity that I have never felt that type of certainty before in my life, or in fact since then. Even with my current travels.

So here is my take away from two days of hiking in the Porkies, that I share with you now….

Some of the most beautiful parts of nature you will only see, experience and appreciate when you work hard for them.

Deep down inside, when something is right, you know it’s right – in whatever form that takes.

Now go outside and enjoy it, while Loops and I head off towards the Michigan border to find some more adventures to share to you!

So, we made it safely to the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park in Michigan and now it’s time to get the kit together for some hiking.

And because I’m a little geeky over my kit, let me talk you through what I’ll be carrying…

Ps. I apologise now for any poor quality or sound in the upcoming videos, sadly I don’t have any decent software for converting and so it’s not the highest quality, but hopefully will do the job sufficiently!